The air traffic control tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was evacuated Tuesday morning as a powerful line of severe thunderstorms swept through the area, triggering a ground stop at the peak of the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
According to a statement from the FAA, severe weather forced the evacuation of the flight tower at approximately 8:45 a.m. local time. (RELATED: Texas Suffers Tornado Damage As Strong Storm System Complicates Thanksgiving Travel)
“The Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control facility controlled the airspace during the evacuation. Operations in the tower resumed around 8:55 a.m. local time,” read the statement, per FOX Weather.
BREAKING: The control tower at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is in ATC ZERO, closed until further notice. A major storm system is hitting the airport, and pilots have been told to report their positions on a common radio frequency. pic.twitter.com/dSJgW4at3x
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) November 25, 2025
UPDATE: The FAA says the ATL air traffic control tower was evacuated for about ten minutes, and radar approach controllers handled flights. “Operations in the tower resumed around 8:55 a.m. local time.”
— Pete Muntean (@petemuntean) November 25, 2025
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center has placed portions of Mississippi and Alabama under a Level 2 (out of 5) severe thunderstorm risk for Tuesday. The agency also notes a 5% probability of tornadoes in the same region, with the potential for intense storms to reform Tuesday afternoon due to daytime heating.
A lower-end severe storm risk will persist across Atlanta and other areas of Georgia.
✈️AIRPORT TOWER EVACUATED: The airport tower at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was briefly evacuated, as thunderstorms rumbled into the region, causing a ground stop at the height of the Thanksgiving travel rush. Details: https://t.co/s7KvwxJ9u3 pic.twitter.com/GTRuMO4Cox
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) November 25, 2025
The American Automobile Association (AAA) is expecting a record 81.8 million Americans to travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving. The day is the busiest travel holiday of the year.